Preview Suzuka 8 Hours, Suzuka, Japan

2013-07-20 10:34
The Coca-Cola Zero Suzuka 8-hour Endurance Road
Race is quite simply Japan’s race of the year.
The 36th running is even more special than usual
for Honda. With 19 teams carrying the Honda
badge, the aim is to claim a fourth successive
victory in this uniquely gruelling and important
endurance race. It would be the 26th 8-hour win for the company.

Honda does not field an official entry for the
classic race, but puts years of production-racing
success into specially prepared Honda CBR1000RR
Fireblades for the top teams, while a number of
independent teams both large and small provide
backing in depth with similar machines.

The Suzuka 8-Hour Endurance race is the second of
four rounds of the World Endurance Championship.
But the iconic race at the world-renowned
figure-of-eight F1 grand prix circuit is much
more than that. Founded in 1978, it is by far the
most important single motorcycle race in the
Japanese industry’s heartland, and a major annual
event for engineers, riders, teams … and enormous crowds of fans.

Only a handful of the most successful regular
World Endurance teams make the journey to Suzuka,
and the vast bulk of the 63-team entry list comes
from Japan. In some cases domestic racing stars
join forces with past and present international
riders. The right combination of talent is the
first step to success in an eight-hour sprint
where speed, endurance, consistency, and a dose
of good luck are all vitally important.

From its foundation, the Suzuka 8-Hour Endurance
has been a show-piece battleground for the Big
Four Japanese manufacturers. Rule changes over
the years mean it has become an important round
of the World Endurance Championship, and for the
2013 race rival European machines will also be
doing battle. But the original status remains
intact. The 8-Hour is still primarily Japan’s race of the year.

There are many potential pitfalls to be
negotiated, in an event that is gruelling and
exciting in equal measure. It offers many chances
and frequent surprises. There are so many
possible variables affecting the outcome.

Teamwork is crucial, with riders relying on
fellow-riders, and precision spanner-work crucial
during tyre changes and refuelling stops. Unlike
MotoGP and Superbike championships there is open
tyre competition, with Bridgestone, Dunlop,
Michelin and Pirelli all involved. Changing
weather conditions and accident induced pace car
intervention often consign pre-planned race
strategy and tactics to history and hastily
modified strategies come into play, but the
relatively short race (compared with such as the
Le Mans 24-Hour) means it is not far off a full-on sprint race.

Conditions make it exhausting for riders.
Sweltering summer temperatures as high as 40
degrees C and humidity of 70 percent or more take
a heavy toll. If all goes smoothly, each rider
will do a session of just under an hour before
resting, rehydrating, and undergoing whatever
physiotherapy may be required. The third rider in
the team generally takes a reserve role.

The trickiest and most atmospheric time is in the
final hour, as darkness sets in and temperatures
drop. The race starts at 11:30, and finishes at 7:30 pm.

The Suzuka circuit is part of Honda, and the
8-Hour Endurance almost as well. In 35 races
Honda has taken outright victory 24 times. The
list of winners is a personal and mechanical
who’s who, showcasing many of Honda’s greatest riders and machines.

MotoGP World champions Mick Doohan, Valentino
Rossi and Wayne Gardner are all past winners,
Gardner four times … a record equalled by former
GP rider Shinichi Ito. World Superbike Champion
Colin Edwards has won three times for Honda,
including in 2002 paired with the late Daijiro
Kato. The biggest Honda winner is another former
grand prix rider, Tohru Ukawa, with a tally of five.

Machine-wise, the list is a roster of successful
supersports machines, from the in-line four CB900
in the late 1970s to the RS1000 and CB900F that
won in 1982. Ridden by Shego Ijima and Shinji
Hagiwara, this was the first Japanese team to win
the home event. The next Honda win two years
later saw Mike Baldwin and Superbike champion
Fred Merkel prevail on the first of the next
generation of V4 engines, the RS750R. The
following RVF750 won five times before evolving
into the legendary RC45, winning five times
between 1994 and 1999. For the next four years
the V-twin VTR1000SPW took over Honda victory
duties, replaced the next year by the CBR1000RR
still used today – a return to in-line four-cylinder configuration.

Honda’s remarkable record includes 16 years of
almost complete dominance in recent years. Since
1997, a Honda has won every year except two. Last
year’s victory by Jonathan Rea, Kosuke Akiyoshi
and Tady Okada was the third in a row.

World Superbike star Rea returns this year to
spearhead the 19 CBR1000RR teams taking part,
with the same F.C.C. TSR Honda team again riding
with the magic number ‘11’ that has graced the
fairing of many Honda 8-Hour winning teams. This
year the Isle of Man resident is teamed with
four-times former Suzuka winner Riyuchi Kyonari.
The Japanese international racer is three times British Superbike champion.

Rea’s victory last year was shared with veteran
Okada and Akiyoshi, who played a major role in
developing this year’s machine, and had expected
to take part. Akiyoshi suffered a fractured femur
earlier this season, and had to cede his ride to
Kiyonari. Should the team achieve the ambition of
a second straight win come true, it would be
Kiyonari’s fifth, putting him equal with Tohru Ukawa.

A strong challenge is expected also from the
international MuSASHi RT HARC PRO team, where
Takumi Takahashi and Leon Haslam are backed by
Michael van der Mark. Japan’s Takahashi and
Britain’s Haslam have both competed at GP level,
the latter now a leading light in World
Superbikes. Dutchman van der Mark is the reigning
World Superstock Champion, currently competing in World Supersport.

The team is seeking a return to the winner’s
circle after three years: All Japan championship
rider Takahashi won the 8-hour in 2010, and was third in 2009 and 2011.

GP winner and World Superbike rider Makoto Tamada
(J) is teamed with Malaysian racer Azlan Shah
Kamaruzaman in Honda Team Asia. Veteran Tamada is
racing this year in the 600 Supersports Asian
championship; his Malaysian team-mate is
returning for a second Suzuka 8-Hour visit.

Fans’ favourite Shinichi Ito, nicknamed “Mr
8-Hour” after four victories and seven pole
positions, returns to the scene of many triumphs
for the first time in two years, riding the TOHO
Racing with Moriwaki CBR1000RR Honda. The former
500cc grand prix star is teamed with All-Japan
Championship rider Tatsuya Yamaguchi for a strong
popular challenge. The third rider is All-Japan
600cc racer Kazuma Watanabe; last year the squad finished second.

Another rider with a big reputation is multiple
Isle of Man TT winner John McGuinness, teamed
with fellow-Britons Simon Andrews and Tony
Rutter, for the HONDA TT LEGENDS squad. A further
international entry comes from Australian pairing
Jamie Stauffer and Josh Hook, riding for Honda DREAM RT SAKURAI HONDA.

Nineteen CBR1000RRRs on the grid makes Honda the
most numerous choice for 63 entrants. Traditional
Japanese rivals are also present in force: Suzuki
has 13 machines, one ridden by 500cc World
Champion and racing legend Kevin Schwantz, out of
retirement for this race. Kawasaki and Yamaha
have 10 bikes apiece. Numbers are made up by six
BMWs, three Ducatis, and one each Aprilia and
KTM, adding a European flavour to the traditional
Japanese technical and sporting battle.

The remaining 14 Honda teams have an all-Japanese
line-up, representing a significant body of local
talent. Of the 14 several will be racing in the
colours of teams allied to motorcycle clubs
belonging to Honda technical schools and manufacturing facilities across Japan.

Takashi Yasuda / Daijiro Hiura / Koji Kitagachi
represent the Honda Suzuka Racing Team; Motoki
Furusawa / Yuta Kodama ride for Team Honda
Technical College. Honda Kumamoto Racing fields
Mitsuhiro Yoshida / Kazuhiro Kojima / Kazuki
Tokudome; and Honda Ryokuyoukai Kumamoto Racing
has Makoto Kitaori / Yasuhiro Ohhashi / Kensuke Mori.


Strong as the Honda line-up is they face
formidable race-hardened and
experienced opposition determined to end Hondas
run of 8-Hour success. Chief among them will be
the Yoshimura Suzuki RT of Takuya Tsuda, Josh
Brookes and the vastly experienced Nobuatsu Aoki.
The ultra-competitive World Endurance
Championship winning SERT Suzuki team field
Vincent Philippe, Anthony Dehalle and Julian Decosta.

Yamaha France run with David Checa, Kenny Forett
and Matthieu Legrive, while the Monster Energy
Yamaha will be in the hands of the
Japanese-Australian combination of Katsuyuki
Nakasuga, Broc Parker and Josh Waters. The
Kawasaki Trickstar Team have high hopes of
success with strong Team Tamaki Serizawa, Osamu Deguchi and Hitoyasu Izutsu.

Whichever team takes the honours at Suzuka on
July 28 will have raced fast and hard for eight
long gruelling hours in extremely demanding
conditions and, as Wayne Gardner so rightly said
of victory at the 8-Hours; “To win the Suzuka
8-Hour race is the greatest feeling a rider can
have in motorcycle racing.” After a brief pause
he added. “To lose the race from a strong
position is the worst feeling a rider can have.”



Honda Rider and Team Manager Quotes:

F.C.C. TSR Honda rider Jonathan Rea says:
“I tested recently and even on the first
afternoon we were as fast as last year. The team
has been held back a little by Akiyoshi-san’s leg
injury but Kiyonari-san has definitely stepped up
to the plate. He has been riding really well. We
have a really good compromise on our bike
settings, so it should be good. The bike’s
character is completely different with
Bridgestone tyres compared to the bike I ride in
SBK. With the engine leaned off for fuel
consumption, it feels like a very balanced and
stable Superstock bike … very stable. This race
is a huge part of my year, and I have more tools
in the bag this time from my experience. You have
to conserve energy, and go with the flow. The goal is to win again.

F.C.C. TSR Honda rider Riyuchi Kiyonari says:
“I knew Jonathan from his BSB years. He was a
fast rider back then, and now he is one of the
world’s top class riders. It means I have
confidence in him and know I can rely on him. It
would have been reassuring if Akiyoshi was able
to race with us. We consider him as a team mate
and he will be with the team. We, together, will
do everything possible to win the race.”

F.C.C. TSR Honda Director Masao Takeda says:
“Akiyoshi has developed an excellent machine that
is fast for any rider. Because of his work, both
Rea and Kiyonari were able to make good lap times
from the start of testing. We know we have a
strong team. Our two riders have exceptional
ability, and Akiyoshi will be there to cheer us
on for the race weekend. By combining all of our
powers, we are aiming for a second consecutive win.”

MuSASHi RT HARC PRO Honda rider Takumi Takahashi says:
“In the past I have been the junior teamed up
with senior riders in the Suzuka 8-hour
Endurance. This year is different, because I am
the experienced rider in the team, and it is up
to me to give leadership to the other riders. It
is the first time at this complicated race for
both Leon and Michael, and I feel responsible to
help them use all their talent.”

MuSASHi RT HARC PRO Honda rider Leon Haslam says:
“I’m proud to be picked by a strong team, aiming
to win. All three of us tested the bike recently
and it went well. We worked hard, comparing the
Bridgestone tyres and getting back up to speed at
Suzuka. I ended up equalling our team’s fastest
lap time in two days of rain during the first
test; in the second Suzuka test in the dry I
threw in a race run and was quickest in our team.
We’re prepared for any conditions. Suzuka is one
of those circuits where you have to love it. The
more laps you do the better you get.”

MuSASHi RT HARC PRO Honda rider Michael van der Mark says:
“Testing for the 8-hour has been really exciting.
It is something special to be invited by HRC to
one of the most important races on the year. It
is also a big challenge for me as I have never
ridden the CBR1000RR, never been to Japan, and
the tyres were different as well. I was nervous
for the test, but it went better than even I
expected, and now I can’t wait. I am the third
rider, but I don’t know if they will use two or
three riders in the race. But just to be invited by Honda is pretty special.”

MuSASHi RT HARC PRO Honda director Shigeki Honda says:
“Last year we suffered disappointment, with a
crash while chasing a top result. This has filled
the whole team with a very strong determination,
that we must win without fail this year. Haslam
and Michael are new to the team, but they have
made a good impression, performing well at tests
and also fitting in well. Takahashi is the
nucleus of the team, and the aim is to win the
race by using teamwork, to make the most of the strength of the three riders.”

Honda Team Asia rider Makoto Tamada says:
“The reason for the existence of this team is the
growing importance of Asia, and with my team-mate
we will be aiming for the top-three podium. Azlan
is a rider with good potential, and he has Suzuka
8 Hour Endurance experience from last year. He
has also raced in some All-Japan JSB1000 races
this year, helping his growth as a rider, and his
confidence. For my part I think I am stronger
than last year. I’m confident of a strong result.”

Honda Team Asia rider Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman says:
“Last year I was the first Malaysian rider to
take part in the Suzuka 8-hour Endurance race,
and I learned a lot in that time. I got more
racing miles in some All-Japan races this year,
and two test sessions at Suzuka for this race. I
am much more experienced than last year, and am
confident my riding has also improved. I hope to
stand on the podium with Tamada, who is such an experienced rider.”

Honda Team Asia director Hiroyuki Matsuyama says:
“Our team is two years old, mixing Japan with
Asia – and not only riders. Asian mechanics have
joined us, to extend the involvement.
Communication can be difficult, but somehow that
adds to the enjoyment for me, and I feel we are
doing valuable work with them. I think Tamada has
sharpened his sense as a rider since competing in
the Asian Championships this season; Azlan has
also improved greatly since last year. We are
considering a number-three rider, and we are
aiming for a top-three podium finish.”

TOHO Racing with Moriwaki rider Shinichi Ito says:
“I have been here at the Suzuka circuit as an
advisor to Honda since last year, and I noticed
that Yamaguchi’s riding has been very fantastic –
the way he has come up to the top with only a
production bike. The idea of riding with him in
the Suzuka 8 Hour Endurance came from me: finally
I spoke out and asked him to ride with me.
Watanabe is also a rider of growing talent. I am
happy that together we can fight for victory. We
shall enjoy the race, and challenge the limit!”

TOHO Racing with Moriwaki Honda rider Tatsuya Yamaguchi says:
“Last year I managed to finish second. Our bike
was a production machine, with a racing kit … so
our result was described as “a miracle”. Being
team-mate to Ito-san is also a miracle for me.
With his potential, and also the ability of
Watanabe, I want to show our power more than last year.

TOHO Racing with Moriwaki Honda rider Kazuma Watanabi says:
“I respect Yamaguchi. He established his team by
himself, operated it well, and achieved good
results as a rider at the same time. Ito is ‘Mr
8-Hour.’ He has had great success, and has given
me a lot of valuable and accurate advice in the
All-Japan races. It is a partnership with two
great riders, and a great chance for me to learn.
I will try not to be a burden on my team-mates.”

TOHO Racing with Moriwaki Honda director Hiroshi Saito says:
“We have added a third rider this year, to give
the chance for a young rider to fulfil his
dreams. Last year we showed what we can do – we
achieved second place even with a production bike
with a race kit. We showed what can be achieved
against faster machines if you keep maximum
effort and never give up. Our target this year is
to make an enjoyable race for the fans once again.



HONDA WINNERS OF THE SUZUKA 8-HOUR ENDURANCE RACE

1 - 1979: Tony Hatton, AUS/Michael Cole, AUS - Honda CB900
2 - 1981: Mike Baldwin, USA/Dave Aldana USA - Honda RS1000
3 - 1982: Shigeo Iijima, J/Shinji Hagiwara, J - Honda CB900F
4 - 1984: Mike Baldwin, USA/Fred Merkel, USA - Honda RS750R
5 - 1985: Wayne Gardner, AUS/Masaki Tokano, J - Honda RVF750
6 - 1986: Wayne Gardner, AUS/Dominique Sarron F - Honda RVF750
7 - 1989: Dominique Sarron, F/Alex Vieira, Por - Honda RVF750
8 - 1991: Wayne Gardner, AUS/Mick Doohan, AUS - Honda RVF750
9 - 1992: Wayne Gardner, AUS/Daryl Beattie, AUS - Honda RVF750
10 -1994: Doug Polen, USA/Aaron Slight, NZ - Honda RVF/RC45
11 - 1995: Aaron Slight, NZ/Tadayuki Okada, J - Honda RVF/RC45
12 -1997: Shinichi Ito, J/Tohru Ukawa, J - Honda RVF/RC45
13 -1998: Shinichi Ito, J/Tohru Ukawa, J - Honda RVF/RC45
14 -1999: Tadayuki Okada, J/Alex Barros, Bra - Honda RVF/RC45
15 - 2000: Tohru Ukawa, J/Daijiro Kato, J - Honda VTR1000SPW
16 - 2001: Valentino Rossi, I/Colin Edwards, USA - Honda VTR1000SPW
17 - 2002: Daijiro Kato, J/Colin Edwards, USA - Honda VTR1000SPW
18 - 2003: Yukio Nukumi, J/Manubu Kamada, J - Honda VTR1000SPW
19 -2004: Tohru Ukawa, J/Hitoyasu Izutsu, J - Honda CBR1000RRW
20 - 2005: Ryuichi Kiyonari, J/Tohru Ukawa, J - Honda CBR1000RRW
21 - 2006: Shinichi Ito, J/Takeshi Tsujimura, J - Honda CBR1000RR
22 - 2008: Ryuichi Kiyonari, J/Carlos Checa, E - Honda CBR1000RR
23 - 2010: Ryuichi Kiyonari, J/Takumi Takahashi, J - Honda CBR1000RR
24 - 2011: Ryuichi Kiyonari, J/Kosuke Akiyoshi,
J/Shinichi Itoh, J - Honda CBR1000RRW
25 - 2012: Jonathan Rea, GB/Kosuke Akiyoshi, J/Tady Okada, J - Honda CBR1000RR

Source: Honda Pro Image

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